Former finance minister Trevor Manuel has been appointed senior adviser to the Rothschild Group, the financial advisory services company said on Tuesday.

"Rothschild is pleased to announce the appointment of Trevor Manuel as a senior adviser to the group world-wide and deputy chairman of Rothschild in South Africa with effect from 1st October 2014," chairman David de Rothschild said in a statement.

"His stewardship of the South African economy under successive presidents and his variety of roles in various global multilateral institutions puts him in a rarified peer group."

Manuel was most recently minister in the presidency responsible for the country's National Planning Commission. He retired from public office earlier this year, having served 20 years in senior government positions.

Manuel said he was looking forward to helping develop the Rothschild franchise in Africa.

"It is an exciting step and a particular pleasure to work alongside the group and its other senior advisers," he said.